Irony, in its original Greek sense, means acting ignorant in order to make
fun of a person or to expose the truth about a situation.We see this very old kind of irony
still at work today when a story or movie shows a shrewd farmer pretending to
be dumb in order to make fun of a city slicker.But irony has also come to have far broader meanings.

We
find three kinds of irony in stories, each of them involving some kind of
contrast between expectation and reality.Verbal irony – the
simplest kind – is being used when someone says one thing
but means the opposite.

If we say, “You sure can pick ‘em,”
to the man whose team finished last, we are using verbal irony.A parent uses verbal irony when she looks
up from the string of D’s on Willie’s report card and says, “It is certainly
gratifying to find you are getting so much out of your education.”

If
the speaker goes on to use words in a particularly harsh and cruel way, we see
the use of sarcasm.Sarcasm is intended to wound, to bite in a hurtful way.

Someone
looking at Willie’s report card would be sarcastic if he said,

“I’ve seen shirts with higher IQs than yours.”

Situational
irony is much more important to the
storyteller than other kinds of irony are. It describes an occurrence that is
not just surprising; it is contrary to what we expected.In an ironic situation, what actually
happens is so contrary to our expectations that is seems to mock human
intentions and the confidence with which we predict our futures.The ironic possibility that this
haughty rich man will come begging from us tomorrow or that this girl who is
dreading tonight’s party will meet her future husband there keeps our lives interesting.Of course, it does the same for our
fiction.

An
example of situational irony would be found in a story that told how, after
years of searching and after many bloody quarrels over the treasure map, the
characters discover the treasure chest and find that it is full of old bottle
caps.

A
classic example of situational irony is found in the myth of King Midas.This greedy king wishes for a golden
touch but when his wish is granted, something unexpected happens.Midas can lo longer eat because even
his food turns to gold when he touches it.The golden touch has brought him not only riches, but
misery, even death, as well.

Dramatic
irony is the kid of irony that occurs when
we know what is in store for a character but the character does not know.This is called dramatic irony because
it’s so often used on stage.

Jean
arranges a surprise party for Fred’s birthday and all his friends are hiding
behind the curtains waiting for him to arrive home.When Fed, looking haggard, calls into an apparently empty
hall, ‘Hello! Jean? Anybody home? Boy, am I tired!” we recognize dramatic
irony. Our sense that an exhausted Fred is soon going to be astonished by a
happy birthday chorus heightens our interest in Fred (we wonder if he’ll just
fall to the floor).

Dramatic
irony adds to our enjoyment of a story because it mimics life, which is forever
pulling surprises on us.

Irony
of all kinds is somehow enormously satisfying, perhaps because we know
instinctively that our carefully laid plans and ambitions and strivings often
come to little, whereas good luck (or bad) often finds unlikely targets.

Satire: A Social Purpose

Satire
is a close relative of irony and often uses irony to accomplish its
purpose.Satire is any writing that uses ridicule with the
intention of bring about social reform.The satirist wants to expose and eliminate human stupidity and
wickedness. Greed, injustice, cruelty, and deceit are all targets of the
satirist.

Jonathan
Swift’s novel Gulliver’s Travels is
often read by children, but it is really one of the most stinging satires in
the English language.The story
mocks people in early 18th century England who thought their nation
was the most civilized on earth.George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is another famous satire, one that uses barnyard animals to mock the
way people abuse political power.

Comedians
on television use satire all the time, often to make fun of themselves.The long-running television show
M*A*S*H used satire to make us laugh (and cry) at the insanity of war.

Ironic
and satiric writing can be humorous.It can lay bare a weakness or a pretense and it can also invite laughter
at someone’s expense. Irony and satire may sometimes sting. They may sometimes
be cruel in purpose and in effect, bit it would be a mistake to ignore them.

Whenever
you hear the ancient claim that “the pen is mightier than the sword” think of
irony and satire. A pen (or computer) that uses irony and satire can even
become a sword, and it can be taken up in a good cause.Irony and satire can hold up to us the
mirror of art and reveal our own faults and foolishnesses.They can make us aware of all the ways
in which we humans persuade ourselves that we are righteous and
right-minded—when, in fact, we just may be dead wrong.